Every federal disaster in Salem since 1955
Each square is a disaster or emergency declaration by the President or FEMA that covered Marion County. Declarations make federal aid available after hurricanes, floods, storms, fires and other events, so this is a record of the big ones.
- Declarations
- 21since 1955
- Major disasters
- 16the most serious kind
- Since 2000
- 12declarations
- Most recent
- 2023Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Marion County's overall natural hazard risk relatively high, led by earthquake, strong wind and lightning. The history above shows what has actually happened; the risk index estimates what is likely.
All declarations
| Declared | Event | Type | FEMA number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 28, 2023 | Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides | Major disaster | DR-4733 |
| Aug 24, 2023 | Liberty Fire | Fire management | FM-5483 |
| May 4, 2021 | Severe Winter Storm | Major disaster | DR-4599 |
| Sep 15, 2020 | Wildfires and Straight-Line Winds | Major disaster | DR-4562 |
| Sep 10, 2020 | Wildfires | Emergency | EM-3542 |
| Sep 8, 2020 | Beachie Creek Lionshead Fire Complex | Fire management | FM-5356 |
| Mar 28, 2020 | COVID-19 Pandemic | Major disaster | DR-4499 |
| Mar 13, 2020 | COVID-19 | Emergency | EM-3429 |
| Mar 2, 2012 | Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides | Major disaster | DR-4055 |
| Mar 2, 2009 | Severe Winter Storm, Record and Near Record Snow | Major disaster | DR-1824 |
| Sep 7, 2005 | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Emergency | EM-3228 |
| Feb 19, 2004 | Severe Winter Storms | Major disaster | DR-1510 |
| Feb 9, 1996 | High Winds, Severe Storms and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-1099 |
| Apr 26, 1993 | Earthquake | Major disaster | DR-985 |
| Jan 25, 1974 | Severe Storms, Snowmelt & Flooding | Major disaster | DR-413 |
| Dec 24, 1964 | Heavy Rains & Flooding | Major disaster | DR-184 |
| Feb 25, 1963 | Floods | Major disaster | DR-144 |
| Oct 16, 1962 | Severe Storms | Major disaster | DR-136 |
| Mar 1, 1957 | Flood | Major disaster | DR-69 |
| Jul 20, 1956 | Storm & Flood | Major disaster | DR-60 |
| Dec 29, 1955 | Flood | Major disaster | DR-49 |
Frequently asked questions
How many federal disasters has Salem had?
Since 1955, the federal government has issued 21 disaster or emergency declarations covering Marion County, including 16 major disaster declarations. 12 of them came in 2000 or later.
What was the most recent federal disaster in Salem?
Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (Major disaster, declared August 28, 2023).
What kinds of disasters hit Salem most often?
By FEMA incident type: flood (8), severe storm (4), fire (4) and biological (2).
New to Salem? The city profile covers flood maps and emergency alerts, and the risk summary shows FEMA's hazard ratings.
Source: FEMA, OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), downloaded October 18, 2026. We list declarations that named Marion County, plus early statewide declarations from before FEMA designated individual counties. "Major disaster" declarations bring the widest federal aid; "emergency" declarations cover shorter-term help; "fire management" declarations help pay to fight large wildfires.